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The Silver Arrow

Urban legends involving ghost trains have been reported from around the world since the early days of locomotives. The Silver Arrow, later to be known as Silver Pin, is a story that dates back to the the mid 1960s behind the backdrop of Stockholm, Sweden.

The legend begins when an experimental aluminum model C5 train was built. 1 out of the 8 prototypes was left unfinished. The car was left unpainted and had other differences that separated it from its peers. It was missing an air suspension, it had a whining distinctive motor sound, and it had outlying sliding doors. It was stated the sliding doors were an idea that would allow more room on the inside of the train for passengers. Another difference between the cars was that the interior panels were installed on the other cars that supported beautiful advertisements on the walls that brought a little color into a commuter’s mundane life. The interior atmosphere of the The Silver Pin was described to be an urban ghetto landscape littered with graffiti and a metaphorical imagery of the daily grind mentality from the working class perspective. The odd “red headed step child” train was only put into commission to be used as a backup car in the Stockholm metro system.

The Folklore

The stories of the ghost train vary from each other. One claims that the The Silver Arrow or Silver Pin is believed to be a train that is only for the dead. Another legend states that If one were to step into the train and sit down they would disappear forever or would finally get off the train weeks, months, or even years later. Reports from subway tunnel workers and commuters claim to have seen Silver Pin moving down the rails filled with commuters with emotionless stares gravitating to the front of the car.

Another urban legend of a haunted abandoned metro station, Kymlinge station on Line 11 also referred to as The Blue Line, had intertwined with the legend of The Silver Pin. Another legend of The Silver Pin ghost train claims that the last stop on the Silver Pin is the Kymlinge station. “Bara de döda stiger av i Kymlinge”, (“only the dead get off at Kymlinge”).

My Thoughts…

The reputation of the train, while being in use, would probably have something to due with the infamous reputation that it later ended up earning. Being only used as a backup would explain why common everyday commuters would rarely see the unique car. The Silver Pin also developed the reputation of not being very reliable. Due to it being the back up train I’m willing to bet the schedule of arrivals at the various stations would be affected. Out of frustration, the people relying on the metro system waiting to be picked up could’ve had a part in creating the references of the legend. I know from personal experience, while having to be dependent on public transportation from my younger days as a teenager, I had made statements such as “I will probably be dead by the time this damn bus arrives.” Of course I’m paraphrasing from the original comments that I made that were filled with all kinds of colorful language and euphemisms.